Research

Motivated by prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of bone diseases, the research of the Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Group focuses on multi-scale structure-function relationships of bone from the extracellular matrix to the organ level. Combined theoretical, experimental, and numerical approaches are applied to model, validate, and simulate the mechanical behaviour of bone tissue and bone-implant systems during growth, aging, disease and treatment. The group supervises Master theses, provides biomechanical testing services, and cooperates with local, national as well as international partners from academia, hospitals, and industry to help reduce the burden of bone diseases and failure of the bone-implant interface.

Postdoc grant UniBE with LBNL

Imaging of Single Mineralised Collagen Fibrils

Bone is a complex material that offers a unique blend of strength, toughness, and lightness. The key feature contributing to this outstanding combination of material properties is the hierarchical arrangement of bone spanning across the length scale.

SNF grant # 200365 with EMPA, PSI, VUT & MUG

Contribution of Bone Tissue Properties to Strength of the Ageing Human Hip

To better understand age-related bone fragility, we examine multiscale and multimodal tissue properties in the proximal femur. At the microscale, we define the tissue’s complete mechanical profile (elastic, yield, and post-yield) using nanoindentation and state-of-the-art high-throughput micropillar compression.

MSB with IS & MG

HR-pQCT-Based Diagnosis of Osteoporosis

Recently, novel diagnostic tools have been developed to predict the mechanical strength of distal bone sections using homogenized finite elements (hFE) based on high-resolution peripheral computed tomography (HR-pQCT).

MSB with MUG & industry partners

Improving Primary Stability of Total Hip Arthroplasty

Variability of the proximal femoral medullary canal plays a crucial role in cementless femoral stem design and placement in total hip arthroplasty and was quantified using statistical shape modelling based on computed tomography data from 763 femora.

SNF grant # 183584 with HUG, IS, & MUG

A Fragility Fracture Integrative Risk Model for CT Recycling

In the previous year, the development of the required submodels for the novel integrative risk model was completed. The calculator has been implemented as a python pipeline, and the next logic step is its validation using external clinical datasets.

Innosuisse grant # 115.975 with ZMK, AO & industry partners

Biomechanical Stability of Dental and Orthopaedic Implants

The bone sets the tone for implant stability and surgical success. Finite element simulation combined with CT imaging enables the virtual reconstruction and analysis of a patient’s heterogeneous bone structure, providing insight into the mechanics underlying bone-implant stability.